Mr James Williams

Biography

Lecturer in Science Education

Biography

I graduated in Geology from the University of London and trained as a science teacher at Chelsea College, Centre for Science and Maths Education, University of London. I taught science in North London (Enfield), South London (Croydon) and Surrey. I have worked as a head of biology, head of year and head of science. I entered teacher education in 1997. In 2006 I filmed a six-part TV history/reality series for Channel 4 called 'That'll teach 'em taking the role of the deputy head and housemaster in the fictional Charles Darwin school teaching 30 teenagers 1950s style.

I was awarded Chartered Science Teacher status in September 2008.

BSc (Goldsmiths' College, University of London)
PGCE (Chelsea College, University of London)
MEd (King's College, University of London)
CSciTeach (Chartered Science Teacher) 
FSB (Fellow of the Society of Biology)

I am a non-active, but elected fellow of:
The Geological Society of London (FGS) 
The Linnean Society of London (FLS)

Member Association for Science Education (ASE)
Member of the Society of Authors

Researcher ID Number: C-8252-2009 

Latest Book/Publication

Available now

Williams, JD (2011) How Science Works: teaching and learning in the science classroom(Continuum Publications)

Reviews

‘This book is well written, easy to read and engages the reader in thoughtful reflection about How Science Works (HSW). It takes the reader beyond the conventional approach, with its focus on experimental and investigative work, and explores the historical, philosophical, moral and ethical elements as well as providing a focus on how scientists work. This should be a key source for all those involved in science education from science teachers and teacher trainers to trainees. For the latter it offers essential support for work at Masters level.’
Roger Lock, Senior Lecturer in Science Education, School of Education, University of Birmingham, UK

‘This is a highly readable and comprehensive account that unravels the mysteries of how Science works. The book is an invaluable source of background information and practical advice. It is an ideal introduction for trainee science teachers, newly qualified teachers and experienced practitioners who wish to develop their teaching skills further.’
Neil Ingram, Senior Lecturer in Science Education (Biology), Bristol University, UK

‘James' ambitious book explores aspects How Science Works (HSW) in a radical, and sometimes controversial way, but from his deep and extensive knowledge of this subject. His style is readily accessible for teachers in their busy lives. They will find themselves well-informed, sometimes unsettled, occasionally rattled, but will also be able to be critically aware of the value of incorporating HSW into the science curriculum, and of the challenge of doing this in an authentic way. They will also understand, and perhaps, be sympathetic to our fumbling attempts to deal with the Nature of Science in our classes, and will be able to play a part in improving learning in these classes, and to be able to contribute to improving the curriculum after reading this book. I thoroughly recommend it to all who wish to be reflective on their science teaching.’
John Oversby, recently PGCE Science Course Leader, University of Reading, UK

Williams, JD (2010) How Scientists Work Ch3. in Toplis, R (Ed) How Science Works: Exploring Effective Pedagogy and Practice (London: Routledge)

 Professional Activities

• Associate Editor - School Science Review
• Executive Peer-Reviewer - Journal of Educational Technology and Society
• Co-author of the best selling key stage 3 science programme for 11 - 14 year olds, Hodder Science

Community and Business

Recent Education Articles

Williams, James (2013) Resources special: RSPCA Week, 29 April-5 May - Could you eat your pets?TES Magazine 19^th April

Williams, James (2013) Science - Making the cut TES Magazine 19^th April

Williams, James (2013) A Resources special: Earth Day, 22 April - Discover the whole wide world TES Magazine 12^th April

Williams, James (2013) Science - A real energy boost TES Magazine 22^nd March

Williams, James: (2013) Science - Pinning down the date TES Magazine 8^th March

Williams, James (2013) Science - Volumes with mass appeal TES Magazine 15^th February

Williams, James (2013) Science - Creativity is all in the mind TES Magazine 8^th February

Williams, James (2013) A Resources special: Journeys - The engineers who had tunnel vision TES Magazine 11^th January

Williams, James (2013) Science - The time traveller's life TES Magazine 4^th January

Williams, James (2012) Science - Elemental, my dear Watson TES Magazine 23^rd January

Public Lectures/Talks

Eastbourne Sceptics in the Pub

Insidious Creationism: the intellectual abuse of children by creationist books and comics

(April 18th 2013)

My research interests currently revolve around teaching 'The Nature of Science', 'The Scientific Method'. In particular what do trainee teachers understand about these concepts and ideas in science. This leads to work on a better understanding of the 'How Science Works' approach in the new GCSE examinations.

Linked to this work is research on the teaching of Evolution in science and the place of Creationism in a school based context.

Other research interests involve issues Surrounding the publication of the Theory of Evolution by means of Natural selection by Alfred Russel Wallace and Charles Darwin.

PGCE 11-18

Teaching the biology specialist content at key stages 3, 4 and 5

Teaching the geology specialist content of key stages 3 and 4 science

Student Consultation

When am I available? 

I don't have a specific time for consultation - The PGCE is a professional course and an intense one where help and advice may be needed at many different times.

How do you get hold of me when you are in school full time?

If you need me, then e-mail is by far the best way to contact me. I try to reply within 48 hours BUT remember that while you are at school I am not sitting around waiting for e-mail to come in, I may be visiting one of your peers at a school or carrying out other teaching duties or doing my research. If I have not responded within 48 hours send me another e-mail and mark it URGENT!

In an emergency...

Contact the main office (Essex House). If you leave a contact number there then I will call you back ASAP. If you are in school tell provide a good time for me to call, i.e. when you are not teaching!

If you need personal help and support

For issues that are not PGCE work related then you can always contact a student adviser, they can also be contacted in the event that you cannot get hold of me.

Where can I be found on campus? 

I am often out of the office (EH209) - this does not mean that I am not on campus. Remember that Science Education works out of the following locations:

Arundel 403 and 409

I could be in any of these areas (or the science prep room).

What do I do when you are on school experience?

When you are on school experience I do a variety of things.

• I visit you and your peers
• I carry out research (see my research interests)
• I attend meetings

In addition I may be helping to write research bids, develop the PGCE and other university programmes.

Hopefully you won't have issues and problems that require my intervention, but if you do then I will do my best to solve the problem - with your help.

Williams, James (2012) The scientific disciplines: what comes first among equals? School Science Review (345). pp. 109-116. ISSN 0036-6811

Williams, James (2011) How do scientists work? In: How Science Works: Exploring effective pedagogy and practice. Routledge, pp. 31-43. ISBN 978-0-415-56280-5

Williams, James (2011) In your view - The nature of school science. Education in Science, 245. pp. 14-15. ISSN 0013-1377

Williams, James D (2011) How Science Works: Teaching and Learning in the Science Classroom. Continuum, London & NY. ISBN 9781441147073

Williams, James (2011) Evolution und Kreationismus im Schulunterricht aus Sicht Großbritanniens. Ist Evolution eine Sache der Akzeptanz oder des Glaubens? In: Evolutionstheorie - Akzeptanz und Vermittlung im europäischen Vergleich. Springer. ISBN 978-3-642-02227-2

Smith, Charles H, Williams, James, Stephens, Jonathan and Beccaloni, George (2010) Alfred Russel Wallace notes 2: the spelling `Russel', and Wallace's date of birth. Archives of Natural History, 37 (2). pp. 351-354. ISSN 0260-9541

Williams, James (2010) Book Review: "Not by Design: Retiring Darwin's Watchmaker" by John O. Reiss. Biological Conservation, 143 (7). pp. 1824-1825. ISSN 0006-3207

Williams, James (2009) Belief versus Acceptance: why do people not believe in evolution? BioEssays, 31 (11). pp. 1255-1262. ISSN 0265-9247

Williams, James (2009) Insidious creationism: the intellectual abuse of children through creationist books, comics and literature. [Video]

Williams, James (2009) Creationist Teaching in School Science: a UK perspective. In: Attitudes towards and Knowledge about Science and Evolution in Europe, University of Dortmund and Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology.

Williams, James and James, David (2009) Book Review: "Plagiarism. The Internet and student learning: improving academic integrity". Journal of Further and Higher Education, 33 (3). pp. 313-319. ISSN 0309-877X

Williams, James (2008) What Makes Science 'Science'? Scientist, 22 (10). pp. 29-30. ISSN 0890-3670

Williams, James (2008) Point of View: The Scientific Method and School Science. Journal of College Science Teaching, 38 (1). ISSN 0047-231X

Williams, James (2008) Science Now and Then: discovering How science works. School Science Review, 90 (330). pp. 45-46. ISSN 0036-6811

Williams, James David (2008) Creationist Teaching in School Science: A UK Perspective. Evolution: Education and Outreach, 1 (1). pp. 87-95. ISSN 1936-6426

Williams, James (2007) Do we know how science works? A brief history of the scientific method - Do we know how science really works? How has the scientific method, if indeed there is one, developed from ancient Greek times to the modern day? School Science Review, 89 (327). pp. 119-125. ISSN 0036-6811

Williams, James (2007) Do we know how science works? A brief history of the scientific method. School Science Review, 89 (327). pp. 119-124. ISSN 0036-6811

Williams, James (2007) Professional or Academic: what impact does education research have? Education in Science (225). pp. 10-11. ISSN 0013-1377

Williams, James (2007) The Vocabulary of How Science Works: Trainee teachers' understanding of key terminology and ideas on the nature of science. In: British Educational Research Association Annual Conference, 5-8 September 2007, Institute of Education, University of London, UK.

Williams, James, Brodie, D and Heslop, N (2007) Predicting the Future: The Vocabulary of 'How Science Works'. In: ASE Annual Conference, Birmingham.

Williams, James (2007) Just How Does Science Work? In: Unset.

Williams, James (2006) So Just How does Science Really Work? PGCE Trainee Perceptions of The Scientific Method. In: ATSE Annual Conference, 30 Aug- 1 Sept, 2006, Newport, South Wales.

Williams, James (2006) Will the New GCSE Really Teach Children How Science Works? Education in Science (216). ISSN 0013-1377

Williams, James (2004) An Introduction to Teaching. In: An Introduction to Teaching A Handbook for Primary and Secondary School Teachers, 2nd Edition. Teaching Series . Routledge , pp. 3-19. ISBN 978-0-415-33531-7

Williams, James (2004) Induction for Newly Qualified Teachers. In: An Introduction to Teaching A Handbook for Primary and Secondary School Teachers, 2nd Edition. Routledge Falmer, pp. 198-210. ISBN 9780415335317

Williams, James (2002) Ideas and evidence in science: the portrayal of scientists in GCSE textbooks. School Science Review, 84 (307). pp. 89-102. ISSN 0036-6811

Williams, James (2001) Professional Leadership in Schools: Effective Middle Management and Subject Leadership. Routledge Falmer, London & Sterling. ISBN 9780749432928